New Groups and Recessions
A number of new groups have started, due to seasonal changes, some have gone into recess and some restarted. For more information, please go to the time table for term 4 in the contents page.

WHAT IS A U3A
The University of the Third Age is a mutual aid self-help movement - a modern community of scholars and artists, catering primarily for people in the Third Age of their lives.

OUR AIMS
The overall aim of Beaudesert U3A Inc. is to provide the members with both the stimulus of mental and physical activity and the satisfaction of a continuing contribution to society. It will enable them to take up new interests and to extend old ones. It will offer the joy of learning for the sake of learning: it will open up new horizons for them - unrestricted by the requirements of vocation or the desire for qualifications, and it will do so, principally by drawing upon the extensive life experience, skills and energies of the members. It is a mutual aid self-help movement - a modern community of scholars, catering primarily for people in the Third Age of their lives.

Beaudesert U3A promotes the joy of learning for the sake of learning, and seeks to open up new horizons for its members unrestricted by the requirements of vocation or the desire for qualifications. It does so, principally by drawing upon the extensive life experience, skills and energies of members.

HISTORY OF U3A
The history of U3A and how they operate is on this page.

Something new to try during lockdown – and beyond!

You can discover the “virtual classroom” which is being offered through Beaudesert U3A and our membership of an autonomous, worldwide group, U3A Online.
With the coronavirus lockdown still part of our lives, we can’t go out and join a group – but we can communicate and learn via online courses.
Beaudesert U3A members can take up one or more listed courses as part of the Beaudesert group membership of U3A Online.

This wide variety of courses comes under several general headings:
• Lifestyle
• Nature
• Science
• World affairs and history

While individual membership of U3A Online costs $30 plus separate fees for selected courses, our members can gain virtually free access to one or more courses for the
total Beaudesert membership fee of $25 – with the bonus that once the coronavirus lockdown is over, you’ll be eligible for any of our 20+ locally-run classes as well as continuing with your online groups.
Course members study at home and use an online discussion forum to “talk” to each other. They’re given their own U3A group’s log-in and password.

Where to start? The list seems endless, but a few options include: Australian flora, writing for pleasure or writing your family history; introduction to IT skills; improving your camera skills.
The person to contact for more information is U3A Beaudesert course coordinator Tina Jones at email t.j.16@bigpond.com or mobile 0418 780 861.

U3A president seeks his replacement.

Our long-term president of Beaudesert U3A (Andy Fechner) has signalled his retirement, while making a plea for a member to step up and "shadow" the position with the aim of taking on the president's role in March 2021.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Beaudesert University of the Third Age, Mr Fechner said he had held the position for six years and felt it was time for someone else to take on the job.
"Every president will have their own style," he said. "I took over from someone with a very different way of doing things and the next person in the job will find the same thing applies. You'll find your own path."

Mr Fechner confirmed the temporary suspension of most U3A courses because of coronavirus fears and restrictions placed on public gatherings.
"However, I point out that this year Beaudesert U3A joined U3A online so that is available to our members," he said.

Division 4 councillor Michael Enright conducted the election of new officers, which resulted in two new committee members, Carol Castles - who takes on Facebook monitoring from Finella Loch, and Tina Jones, who steps into Laurel Fechner's shoes as course coordinator.

Cheryl Folley
Publicity Officer

U3A's Jigsaw Library is a mental challenge!

Cheryl Folley

Beaucare Bus Trip information.

For the convenience of U3A members Beaucare Bus trip information has been included on a separate page. Please make bookings through the Telephone number listed on that page.
Beaucare Bus Trips